Agenda and minutes

Items
No. Item

1.

Question from: County Councillor Matthew Dorrance Subject: Inspection and Servicing of Heating Systems in Council Houses

 

Question From:

County Councillor Matthew Dorrance

Subject:

Inspection and Servicing of Heating Systems in Council Houses

Question To:

County Councillor James Evans  

Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Housing and Regulatory Services

 

Question:

 

I understand that the Council is failing in its duty to properly inspect and service heating systems in Council houses.

 

Why has the Council failed to properly protect tenants, what is it doing to put the problem right and how can our tenants have confidence in the Council to make sure they are not put at risk?

 

Minutes:

Response by the Portfolio Holder:

 

The inspection and servicing of heating systems in Powys County Council’s social housing stock is delivered on behalf of the council by Heart of Wales Property Services (HoWPS). HoWPS are required to work to a 10 month servicing cycle to allow for no access appointments and for any repairs to be undertaken.

 

Following a change to the way gas servicing was delivered, there was a drop in service delivery. This was identified by Powys County Council and officers have been working with HoWPS and senior Kier officers to deliver urgent progress. When performance was not improving as quickly as required, Powys County Council took the decision to issue a Step-In notice to HoWPS in terms of heating servicing. As a result, the Council will directly commission all heating servicing due for renewal in the months of March and April. Robert Heath Limited, a contractor with whom the Council has successfully worked with previously, will undertake the work. This will allow HoWPS time to embed improved processes and systems, and work to reinstate the two month buffer required. As long as HoWPS meet the improvement targets required, a Step-Out notice could then be issued and the service returned to HoWPS for delivery. If the expected improvements are not achieved on time, then the Council will continue to directly manage the service until such time as HoWPS is able to take on the work again.

 

Tenants will be contacted by HoWPS or Robert Heath Limited to book appointments to have their servicing undertaken. We ask that wherever possible, tenants keep to these appointments. If an appointment is no longer convenient, we request that they contact the provider as soon as possible to reschedule. Missed appointments are costly in terms of resources and time.

 

The Council took decisive and swift action when performance dropped below acceptable levels. Tenants can be assured that their wellbeing is our highest priority and we are working alongside HoWPS to support improvements being made to the service.